Liis Karelson

Yoga • Tallinn

My name is Liis. I’m 27 years old living in Tallinn, Estonia. I was born and raised in Estonia. My favorite thing is to explore different amazing places around the world with my boyfriend. In everyday life I’m a kindergarten teacher who has practiced yoga for 3 years and seven days a week. I love everything about yoga, travel and healthy life. Actually, I’m the kind of girl who listens to rap music on the way to the farmers markets after yoga.

What drives you?

“The trouble is you think you have time.” Buddha
When I first heard this quote after graduating university, I fell head-first into “do it now, do it now, do it now.” I never say no to something new and exciting.

What’s next in training?

I feel that I can further develop my body and get to know more about it. I still have so much to learn, and everyday yoga practice is just what helps me on this journey. This is nothing more than a unique routine: sometimes it's fun, sometimes painful, never the same. I believe that in time it will become one of the best things that I will no longer give up.

What makes you happy?

Smiling and positive people make me happy, especially children. It’s always fun to be around kids and I have learned that they are our biggest teachers. At the same time I think that happiness is in the soul, that it stays solid no matter what is happening around me.

How do you create balance in your life?

The things in life that require balance can be divided into two categories: internal and external. Sometimes, people focus on one more than the other. I can find external balance from relationships, vacations, travel, delicious and healthy food. Yoga and meditation helps me find internal balance.

What are your goals for the future?

There is never going to be a perfect time to do everything I want, but by working little goals into my day-to-day life, I can focus on the little things and be patient and trust the big things will come. But the next big step is that I’m going to children’s yoga teacher training. Yoga helps children to get better contact with themselves and to create good energy for the day for learning and playing. By being children’s yoga teacher I can combine my work and hobby.

Who inspires you and why?

I'm inspired by people around me, people who makes my eyes sparkle. The person in my life who inspires me the most is my mother. She also inspired me to start practicing yoga. My mother has been doing yoga for a long time and as I saw her progress, I also became fascinated with yoga. Her consistency has inspired me to become better and better.